Recirculating toilet

ABSTRACT

A self-contained recirculating toilet system requiring no pressure water connection or holding tank installation. The system includes a toilet bowl, a tank for holding the liquid of the system and a self-cleaning pump-and-filter apparatus for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid to the bowl for return to the tank. The pump is adapted to be operated by a 12volt DC electrical circuit. The filtering system includes a strainer basket which is vibrated during operation of the pump in order to remain clog free.

708x 567 33 WW ll 4 22 0M. m mm m m t .a .l-l m mm .momu t k mm m m w m g a dTr Mm da m mm b u P g Invent r Ch rle B- ll 3,342,341 9/1967 Lee Feaslel'ville- 3,356.221 12/1967 Katone at pp 1.692 3,473,171 10/1969 Palmerlm..." Filed Jan. 9,1970 3,478,690 11/1969 Halk etal. n ed July 20,1971 3,520,003 7/1970 Shaw Assignee Thetlord Corporation FOREIGN PATENTS 141,741 6/1951 Australia..1....,..............

Primary Examiner-HenryK. Artis Attorney-Olsen and Stephenson 19 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

4/78, 4/90, 4]! l5, 103/93 ABSTRACT: A self-contained recirculating toilet system requiring no pressure water connection or holdin lation The system includes a toilet bowl the liquid of the system and a self-cleanin United States Patent 154] RECIRCULATING TOILET paratus for circulating a quantity of relativel the bowl for return to the tank. The pump operated by a l2-volt DC electrical circuit. system includes a strainer basket which is v operation of the pump in order to remain clog free.

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INVENTOR CHARLES B. WELLS dwM / ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUL20 |97i SHEET 2 OF 3 I I Hill INVENTOR CHARLES B. WELLS ATTORNEYS PATENTED JULZO \971 SHEET 3 BF 3 FIG. 6

FIG. 8

INVENTOR CHARLES B. WELLS gfima ATTORNEYS RECIRCULATING TOILET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a self-contained recirculating toilet system having an improved self-cleaning pump-andfilter apparatus.

It is known to provide a self-contained recirculating toilet, but such toilets which have been developed in the past leave much to be desired. One of the serious defects frequently encountered in the prior art devices has been their inability to maintain a clog-free filter system which is durable and trouble free. Normally, the prior art devices have employed two relatively moving parts, such as a filter basket and a comb for keeping the inlet apertures of the filter basket unclogged. These relatively movable parts are driven by the motor of the pump, and failure of the motor frequently occurs due to overload resulting from solid matter becoming wedged between the relatively movable parts. Thus, a need has existed in the prior art for a pump-and-fil'ter system which is characterized by its ability to recirculate relatively clear liquid from the tank to the bowl, and which is constructed and arranged so that it is clog free, but so that even if a clogged condition should arise, such condition will not impair the pump of the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, and has provided apump-and-filter system which is generally clog free, and which is free of maintenance problems.

According to one form of the present invention, a self-contained toilet system is provided that includes a toilet bowl and a tank for holding the liquid of the system. A self-cleaning pump-and-filter apparatus is provided for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid from the tank to the toilet bowl for return to the tank comprising pump means having an inlet in communication with the tank and an outlet in communication with the bowl, a strainer basket enclosing said inlet mounted for eccentric movement about the axis of the shaft, and an actuating means operatively associated with the pump means for moving the strainer basket eccentrically about the axis when the pump means is circulating water from the tank to the bowl. The mounting of the strainer basket is such that when it moves eccentrically with respect to the shaft, a vibratory movement is imparted to it, and this movement of the inlet apertures of the strainer basket provides a turbulent flow of the liquid so-as to impede or prevent clogging of the apertures. Thus, there is no relative movement of parts adjacent to the inletapertures so as to create a condition in which solid matter will accumulate or wedge between the parts to obstruct filtering action of the basket. Normally, there will be rotary movement of the basket, but instead, the basket will be keyed to the mounting on the pump housing so that its movement is essentially a vibratory one creating turbulent flow adjacent to the apertures in the walls of the basket.

By virtue of this construction, even if a condition should exist wherein the inlet apertures of the basket are temporarily clogged, the motor to the pump, which is used to vibrate the basket, will not be overloaded because the clogging condition will not impede the movement of the basket.

Other features of the invention are the shapes of the inlet apertures which contribute to increasing the turbulentflow during the vibratory movement of the basket, and also the shape of the basket adjacent to its bottom wall which permits the most effective mounting of the pump-and-filter apparatus in the tank of the toilet system so that optimum utilization of space is provided.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved selfcleaning pump-and-filter apparatus for a self-contained toilet'system, which is constructed and arranged so that it provides optimum clog-free operating conditions and minimum maintenance requirements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a self-contained recirculating toilet system embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the strainer basket forming a part of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the strainer basket mounted on the housing of the pump;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the lines 4-4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the lines 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a modified form of the pump-and-filter apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a section in reduced scale, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS isiadapted to be mounted on a baseboard 12 having a suitable discharge outlet 14. The toilet system 10 includes the toilet tank 16 in which is mounted the toilet bowl 18. A conventional toilet seat 20 and a cover 22 are suitably mounted over the toilet bowl [8. The toilet tank 16 has a discharge opening .24 in its bottom wall 26 adapted to be in registry with the outlet 14. A suitable gate valve 28 such as that shown in U.S. Pat.

.No. 3,333,814, granted Aug. 1, 1967 to Ronald J. Sargent is mounted between the discharge opening 24 and the outlet 14 for normally closing the discharge opening 24 in the toilet tank 16. For a more detailed description of the gate valve 28, reference is made to the cited US. Pat. No. 3,333,814.

A self-cleaning pump-and-filter apparatus 30 is mounted at the rear of thetoilet tank 16 for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid from the tank 16 to the bowl l8, and for return to the tank 16 when the pivotally mounted closure member 32 is open.

The pump-and-filter apparatus 30 includes the pump means 34 which has an electric motor 36 at its upper end'adapted to be driven from a suitable source of 12 volt DC current, a rotary shaft 38 and a rotary pump impeller 40 adjacent to its lower end. The pump means 34 has an inlet 42 in communication with the tank 16 and an outlet 44in communication with the bowl 18 via the flexible conduit 46 which is adapted to discharge into the bowl 18 at the upper end thereof at the port 48.

Mounted on the lower end of the rotary shaft 38 is an eccentric 50 for a purpose to be described. Mounted on the lower end of the housing 52 of the pump 34 is a strainer basket 54 which has at its upper end a radially outwardly projecting lip 56 which extends into the radially inwardly opening channel 58 of housing 52 to permit eccentric movement of the basket 54 about the axis of the shaft 38. The lip 56 is retained between two bearing members 60 which provide a seal between the interior of the strainer basket 54 and the annular space defined at the base of the channel 58. Thus, the annular space will be retained free of solid matter so that the strainer basket 54 can move in an eccentric manner with respect to the axis of the shaft 38.

The basket 54 also has a spider 62 at its upper end which includes a central bore 64 into which the eccentric 50 projects. The bore 64 and the eccentric 50 are preferably formed of a suitable plastic material such as Teflon and the bearing members 60 are preferably formed of a similar material so as to provide the most efiicient eccentric movement of the strainer basket 54.

As can be seen best in FIGS. 2-5, inclusive, the strainer basket 54 has a circular cross section, and the inlet apertures in the sidewalls are longitudinal slots 66 which have their greatest effective cross-sectional areas at the outer surfaces 68 of the basket, and which converge inwardly to have a reduced throat 70 of lesser effective cross-sectional areas at the inner surfaces 72 of the basket. The bottom wall 74 of the basket 54 also has radial slots 76 which have their greatest effective cross-sectional areas at the outer surfaces 78, and these apertures also converge inwardly to provide throats 80 of lesser effective cross-sectional areas at the inner surface 82 of the basket. It is found that inlet apertures of this construction are very effective for remaining in a clog-free status when used in conjunction with the vibrating filter system of the present invention.

In operation, liquid from the tank 16 is circulated by the pump 34 by initially drawing the liquid through the strainer basket 54 which will then be vibrating due to the action of the eccentric 50 with respect to the bore 64. The strainer basket 54 will not rotate because of the pin 84 therein which extends through the hole 86 in the housing 52 of the pump 34. Thus, the basket in effect will be keyed against rotation, although it can move in an eccentric pattern within the channel 58. The liquid will enter the inlet apertures 70 and 80 and will pass through the spider and also through the bore 64 upward into the impeller chamber for discharge to the toilet bowl 18. By virtue of the flow of liquid through the bore 64, the actuating means for vibrating or moving the basket eccentrically will be kept free of solid matter.

Normally the pump 34 will be operated by a 12 volt DC electric circuit through a timer mechanism, not shown, which will actuate the pump for a limited time period to provide sufficient liquid for flushing the toilet system 10. After the system has been flushed a substantial number oftimes, the contents of tank 16 can be removed through outlet 24 and a fresh charge ofliquid can be introduced into the tank.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 which show a modified form of the basket 154 which may be utilized in the toilet system when it is desired to conserve space. In this form of the invention all of the component parts are the same as those used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, with the exception of the basket 154, and like reference numbers are used where corresponding parts are the same. it will be observed that the main difference between the strainer basket 54 and the strainer basket 154 is that the latter has its bottom wall inclined to the axis of the shaft 38 and is parallel to the bottom wall 26 of the tank 16. Thus, the pump-and-filter apparatus 30 can be mounted in a lower position, if conservation of space is desired.

I claim:

1. In a self-contained toilet system that includes a toilet bowl and a tank for holding the liquid of the system, selfcleaning pump-and-filter apparatus for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid from the tank to the bowl for return to the tank comprising pump means having an inlet in communication with said tank and an outlet in communication with said bowl, a strainer basket enclosing said inlet mounted for eccen tric movement about an axis, and actuating means operatively associated with said pump means for moving said strainer basket eccentrically about said axis to cause vibration thereto when said pump means is circulating liquid from said tank to said bowl.

2. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 1, wherein said pump means includes a rotary impeller adjacent to said inlet and a rotary shaft for turning said impeller, said strainer basket being mounted for eccentric movement about the axis of said shaft.

3. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein an eccentric is mounted on said shaft, and said strainer basket is coupled to said eccentric for movement eccentrically about said axis in response to turning of said shaft.

4. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein said tank has a bottom wall and said axis is inclined to said bottom wall, and said strainer basket has a circular cross section with its bottom wall perpendicular to said axis.

5. In a selfcontained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein said tank has a bottom wall and said axis is inclined to said bottom wall, and said strainer basket has a circular cross section with its bottom wall generally parallel to the bottom wall of said tank.

6. in a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein said pump means has a radially inwardly opening channel adjacent to said inlet, and said strainer basket has a radially outwardly projecting lip extending into said channel for mounting said basket, said channel having an internal depth of sufficient magnitude so that said lip can move eccentrically therein.

7. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 6, wherein bearing rings are positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of said lip between the lip and channel.

8. in a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein said strainer basket has a spider at its upper end containing a central bore, and said eccentric is fitted into said bore for moving said strainer basket eccentrically during rotation ofsaid shaft.

9. in a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 8, wherein said bore is aligned with said inlet to said pump and is open at opposite ends to provide a passageway for flow of filtered liquid over the surface of said eccentric.

10. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 8, wherein said strainer basket is keyed to said pump means so as to be held against relative rotation with respect thereto.

11. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 1, wherein said strainer basket defines inlet apertures which have their greatest effective cross-sectional areas at the outer surfaces of the basket and which converge inwardly to have lesser effective cross-sectional areas at the inner surfaces of the basket.

12. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 11, wherein some of said inlet apertures are longitudinal slots in the sidewalls of said strainer basket.

13. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 11, wherein some of said inlet apertures are radial slots in the bottom wall of said strainer basket.

14. in a self-contained toilet system that includes a toilet bowl and a tank for holding the liquid of the system, selfcleaning pump-and-filter apparatus for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid from the tank to the bowl for return to the tank comprising pump means having an inlet in communication with said tank and an outlet in communication with said bowl for circulating said liquid, a strainer basket enclosing said inlet, said basket having a wall defining inlet apertures through which liquid flows continuously from the tank to the bowl while said pump means is operating, and means for vibrating the basket when the liquid flows through said apertures to impede clogging of said apertures.

15. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 14, wherein the means for vibrating the basket comprises a drive mechanism driven by said pump means and connected to said basket for reciprocating said wall in a path generally in alignment with the axis of the apertures during the continuous flow of the liquid.

16. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 15, wherein said apertures have a throat reduced in cross section adjacent to the inner surface of said wall.

17, In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 16, wherein said apertures are slots extending longitudinally of said basket in its sidewall and radially of said basket in its bottom wall. 

1. In a self-contained toilet system that includes a toilet bowl and a tank for holding the liquid of the system, self-cleaning pump-and-filter apparatus for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid from the tank to the bowl for return to the tank comprising pump means having an inlet in communication with said tank and an outlet in communication with said bowl, a strainer basket enclosing said inlet mounted for eccentric movement about an axis, and actuating means operatively associated with said pump means for moving said strainer basket eccentrically about said axis to cause vibration thereto when said pump means is circulating liquid from said tank to said bowl.
 2. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 1, wherein said pump means includes a rotary impeller adjacent to said inlet and a rotary shaft for turning said impeller, said strainer basket being mounted for eccentric movement about the axis of said shaft.
 3. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein an eccentric is mounted on said shaft, and said strainer basket is coupled to said eccentric for movement eccentrically about said axis in response to turning of said shaft.
 4. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein said tank has a bottom wall and said axis is inclined to said bottom wall, and said strainer basket has a circular cross section with its bottom wall perpendicular to said axis.
 5. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein said tank has a bottom wall and said axis is inclined to said bottom wall, and said strainer basket has a circular cross section with its bottom wall generally parallel to the bottom wall of said tank.
 6. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein said pump means has a radially inwardly opening channel adjacent to said inlet, and said strainer basket has a radially outwardly projecting lip extending into said channel for mounting said basket, said channel having an internal depth of sufficient magnitude so that said lip can move eccentrically therein.
 7. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 6, wherein bearing rings are positioned on the upper and lower surfaces of said lip between the lip and channel.
 8. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 3, wherein said strainer basket has a spider at its upper end containing a central bore, and said eccentric is fitted into said bore for moving said strainer basket eccentrically during rotation of said shaft.
 9. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 8, wherein said bore is aligned with said inlet to said pump and is open at opposite ends to provide a passageway for flow of filtered liquid over the surface of said eccentric.
 10. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 8, wherein said strainer basket is keyed to said pump means so as to be held against relative rotation with respect thereto.
 11. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 1, wherein said strainer basket defines inlet apertures which have their greatest effective cross-sectional areas at the outer surfaces of the basket and which converge inwardly to have lesser effective cross-sectional areas at the inner surfaces of the basket.
 12. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 11, wherein some of said inlet apertures are longitudinal slots in the sidewalls of said strainer basket.
 13. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 11, wherein some of said inlet apertures are radial slots in the bottom wall of said strainer basket.
 14. In a self-contained toilet system that includes a toilet bowl and a tank for holding the liquid of the system, self-cleaning pump-and-filter apparatus for circulating a quantity of relatively clear liquid from the tank to the bowl for return to the tank comprising pump means having an inlet in communication with said tank and an outlet in communication with said bowl for circulating said liquid, a strainer basket enclosing said inlet, said basket having a wall defining inlet apertures through which liquid flows continuously from the tank to the bowl while said pump means is operating, and means for vibrating the basket when the liquid flows through said apertures to impede clogging of said apertures.
 15. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 14, wherein the means for vibrating the basket comprises a drive mechanism driven by said pump means and connected to said basket for reciprocating said wall in a path generally in alignment with the axis of the apertures during the continuous flow of the liquid.
 16. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 15, wherein said apertures have a throat reduced in cross section adjacent to the inner surface of said wall.
 17. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 16, wherein said apertures are slots extending longitudinally of said basket in its sidewall and radially of said basket in its bottom wall.
 18. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 17, wherein the bottom wall of said basket is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said basket.
 19. In a self-contained toilet system, apparatus as is defined in claim 17, wherein the bottom wall of said basket is generally parallel to the bottom wall of said tank. 